Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV – an Update                     from Rural Africa

Abstract. Sub-Saharan Africa is home of 85 % of pregnant women living with HIV and 90 % of HIV-infected children. WHO issued the first prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) recommendations in 2000. These guidelines have been revised to incorporate new evidence and align with the goal of universal treatment access and zero infections among children. Currently, 82 % of HIV-infected pregnant women receive antiretroviral treatment, and infections among children have halved since 2010. However, in 2018, 160,000 children became infected. Reasons hindering the success of PMTCT are: a) non-universal HIV testing during pregnancy; b) low retention through the PMTCT cascade; and c) missed opportunities to diagnose women who acquire HIV while pregnant or breastfeeding. To address these gaps innovative strategies are needed.

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Programme recommendations for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: A practical guide for managers

10.31899/hiv2003.1009 ◽

2003 ◽

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Maternal Child Health ◽

Mother To Child Transmission ◽

Child Transmission ◽

Working Paper ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Mother To Child ◽

Prevention Of Hiv

UNAIDS estimates that 800,000 children were infected with HIV in 2001, almost all through transmission of the virus from their mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Of these, seven of each eight live in sub-Saharan Africa and most of the rest live in South and Southeast Asia. To combat mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT), in 1999 the UNAIDS Secretariat, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WHO launched the Inter Agency Task Team on Prevention of HIV Transmission in Pregnant Women, Mothers, and Their Children (IATT), which provides guidance for prevention of MTCT (PMTCT). In the view of the IATT, PMTCT is part of broader strategies to prevent the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, to care for HIV-positive women and their families, and to promote maternal-child health. The IATT has proposed a four-pronged approach for the prevention of HIV transmission to pregnant women, mothers, and their children, yet significant financial and technical challenges remain. To address these challenges, UNICEF has supported 11 pilot projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This HIV/AIDS working paper provides guidance for improving and scaling up PMTCT programs, based on what program managers and evaluators identify as successful strategies.

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Breast milk as the “water that supports and preserves life”—Socio-cultural constructions of breastfeeding and their implications for the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa

Health Policy ◽

10.1016/j.healthpol.2008.06.005 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 89 (3) ◽

pp. 322-328 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jennifer Hofmann ◽

Manuela De Allegri ◽

Malabika Sarker ◽

Mamadou Sanon ◽

Thomas Böhler

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Mother To Child Transmission ◽

Child Transmission ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Cultural Constructions ◽

Mother To Child

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Female perspectives of male partners’ inclusion in the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme in KwaZulu-Natal

Curationis ◽

10.4102/curationis.v39i1.1691 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mondli Miya ◽

Tennyson Mgutshini

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Child Health Services ◽

Mother To Child Transmission ◽

Male Partners ◽

Child Transmission ◽

Financial Investment ◽

Mother To Child

Background: The South African government intervened by implementing the prevention of mother–to-child transmission programme (PMTCT) to curb the HIV transmission from mother to child during and after pregnancy. The PMTCT programme has been at the forefront of global prevention efforts since 1998. Without treatment, the risk of transmission ranges from one in five to one in two newborns; however, the risk of mother-to-child transmission can be reduced to as low as 2%–5% with evidenced interventions. Sub-Saharan Africa, and most particularly South Africa, is the most affected by the pandemic despite having the largest financial investment in PMTCT services across the continent.Objectives: The objectives of the study were to describe and explore the female perspectives of male inclusion in the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme in KwaZulu-Natal.Methodology: A qualitative, descriptive, explorative study was conducted through in-depth individual interview of pregnant women until data saturation.Results: The findings of the study revealed that the existing design of public hospitals was not wholly conducive to facilitating male inclusion in maternal and child health services. Resources were largely insufficient to support the participation of pregnant mothers and any attempts to support the inclusion of males needed to be based on a clear increase in service provision.Conclusion: The study recommended male partners’ inclusion in the prevention of mother- to-child HIV transmission to support effective management of HIV in pregnancy and PMTCT programmes. The inclusion of men will provide the holistic support needed by pregnant women on PMTCT programmes.

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